Old Colony Historical Society

Taunton, Massachusetts

LECTURE TOPICS

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All talks, written and delivered by Historical Society staff, are designed to be informative and enjoyable. The length and content can be adapted to fit the requirements of various groups and/or locations. Other topics on local history, genealogy and the decorative arts may be arranged.

 

1.   “Early New England Ice Harvesting”

 

Slide talk discussing the methods of harvesting, storing and sale of ice. Emphasis on the business in general, with some local (Taunton area) firms receiving mention.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 35 minutes)

 

  1. “How Taunton Has Changed”

 

Slide program featuring historic photographs from the Society’s collection, reflecting pre and post 1900 Taunton, its people and places. Discussion of social and economic factors contributing to these changes, is included.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 30 minutes)

 

  1. “William Mason: The Man and His Machines”

 

Illustrated lecture exploring the life and work of Taunton industrialist William Mason, manufacturer of railroad locomotives and textile spinning looms, as well as Springfield rifles for the Civil War. Aspects of Mason’s personal life are also discussed.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 30 minutes)

 

  1. “From Simple Start to Silver Finish: Reed & Barton the First 100 Years”

 

Slide talk discusses the history of the Reed & Barton firm, within the context of historical trends of the day. Styles, local and national history, popular trends and decorative arts issues are emphasized. Technical aspects of the silver making process are not covered.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 40 minutes)

 

 

  1. “Taunton Green: Common Ground”

 

Slide talk explains the history of Taunton Green from both cultural and military perspectives, and then incorporates memories of the Green collected from area residents.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 45 minutes)

 

  1. “Painters and Patrons: Artists in Taunton 1750-1900”

 

Slide talk surveys artistic activity in the Taunton area from the earliest known paintings through 1900. Recently discovered information about both the artists and those who patronized the arts is discussed. Audience shares in the intriguing detective process used to research previously unknown works.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 45 minutes)         

 

  1. “The Colonial Revival and Historic Preservation, Parts I and II”

 

Slide program discusses the rise of the Colonial Revival movement in decorative arts and architecture, with a focus on early 20th century preservation activity. As an example, Part I of the program describes the restoration of the Fisher-Richardson House in Mansfield, Mass., and the historical pageant held to celebrate its opening in 1930. Part II uses the 1792 Nightingale-Brown House in Providence as a case study.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 30 minutes)

 

  1.  “Main Street, Taunton, Mass.”

 

Slide lecture offering a stroll along Taunton’s Main Street during the mid to late 19th century. This presentation showcases both downtown businesses and the buildings in which they were located.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 35 minutes)

 

  1.  “For Liberty & Union: Pre-Revolutionary Expressions of Patriotism”

 

This lecture describes the origins of Taunton’s Liberty & Union Flag, raised on Taunton Green on October 21, 1774. The program places this event in the context of patriotic activity dating back to the 1760s and introduces the audience to such

notables as Robert Treat Paine, Daniel Leonard, David Cobb, and Thomas Gilbert of

Assonet. This is not a slide lecture.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 40 minutes)

 

10.  “Dighton Rock”

 

The inscriptions on this boulder in the Taunton River have at times been attributed to the Phoenicians, Vikings, Portuguese, and American Indians. This slide lecture discusses the theories and personalities that have ebbed around this mysterious rock for generations.         

                                                                        (Approx. 40 minutes)

                                         

  1. “The Intrepid George Washington”

 

George Washington is one of the most famous and revered Americans who ever lived. He has become a mythic figure-but how much do we remember about the man? This program recalls some of the lesser-known episodes of Washington’s life, which helped him to become the Father of Our Country. This is not a slide lecture.

 

                                                                                                      (Approx. 30 minutes)

 

  1. “Don’tcha Know There’s a War On?: The WW II Home Front in Taunton”

 

Scrap drives, air raid drills, the Taunton Serviceman’s Club, and Victory gardens were all a part of Taunton life during the war. This program captures the heroic effort made by the citizens of Taunton and surrounding towns to support an allied victory between 1941 and 1945. Numerous local scenes illustrate home life, volunteering, industrial mobilization, and Camp Myles Standish.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 40 minutes)

 

  1. “Work and Play: Childhood in Taunton, 1870-1920”

 

Follow Taunton’s children through their days of school, leisure time activities and even wage labor. Learn how the lives of rural children and immigrants differed from the lives of native city residents.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 45 minutes)

 

  1. “The Christmas City”

 

View the famous Taunton Green decorated in celebration of the Christmas season, from the 1930s through the 1990s. Learn about the origins of this local tradition, begun in 1914.

                                                                                                      (Approx. 30 minutes)

 

  1. “Town and Country:  Furniture at the Old Colony Historical Society”

 

You will be escorted through a short history of furniture in America, from the 17th century through the mid-19th century.  Special emphasis is given to the Society’s Southeastern New England collections.  When given at the Society, the lecture includes demonstrations of the actual pieces.

 

                                                                                                      (Approx. 45 minutes)

 

  1. “Richard Upjohn in Taunton”

 

Nationally reknowned architect Richard Upjohn designed the Bristol Academy building in 1852 where the Old Colony Historical Society now resides.  He also designed over a dozen other projects in the Taunton area.  The slide program reviews Upjohn’s background and surveys the handsome architectural legacy he left here.

                                                                                                            (Approx 30 minutes)

 

 

Speaker’s Fee: Please contact the Society for more information at 508-822-1622, or mailto:OldColony@oldcolonyhistoricalsociety.org.

 

We can provide projector, projector table and screen. We prefer to use the organization’s lectern.